Bayern Munich: No last-minute transfers, even with Javi Martinez out

Bayern Munich will not sign another defender despite injuries to Jerome Boateng and Javi Martinez, CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed in an interview with Sky in Germany. "It is practically out of the question that we will do that," he said.

Matthias Sammer, Bayern's sporting director, added: "In present circumstances, I can't imagine that we'll do something." Martinez revealed his injury just before Sunday's 2-0 win against Hoffenheim, and reports claim he may need another knee operation to repair ligaments. This latest injury comes a week after Boateng suffered an adductor injury against Hamburger SV.

That decision has perhaps less to do with Bayern's needs than it does with the transfer market itself, which has not changed since Boateng's injury. The club's assessment remains the same: "There isn't actually any quality on the market," said Rummenigge, and Bayern can't simply snap up any good defender it chooses. "There are no good players that good clubs would give up in the winter transfer period."

Bayern thus will go with the depth the club has at its disposal, a taste of which we saw today in their 2-0 victory over Hoffenheim. Bayern's lone healthy central defender Holger Badstuber was supported by David Alaba, Joshua Kimmich, and Xabi Alonso. If Martinez can come back in weeks, not months, as Rummenigge insisting "he is not so seriously injured," it won't be too soon.